Search Results (1,012)

African American (AA) women often experience earlier onset and more severe menopause symptoms, especially vasomotor symptoms (VMSs) like hot flashes, compared to other groups. However, limited research has examined the effectiveness and acceptability of menopause treatments in this population. This scoping review synthesized evidence on pharmacological (e.g., hormone replacement therapy [HRT], SSRIs, venlafaxine, nitroglycerin) and holistic (e.g., dietary changes, physical activity [PA], supplementation) approaches for managing menopause symptoms in AA women. Using Joanna Briggs Institute and PRISMA-ScR guidelines, a scoping review was conducted, guided by the PCC framework. Four databases (CINAHL, PsycInfo, PubMed, Scopus) were searched for English-language studies (2010–2025) involving AA women aged 40–65. Eligible studies included RCTs and observational designs with ≥10% AA participants. Data were charted and synthesized descriptively. Fourteen U.S.-based studies (11–53% AA representation) were included. Pharmacological treatments—especially HRT and SSRIs—were effective for VMSs and mood symptoms. Holistic approaches showed mixed outcomes; PA and magnesium offered modest benefit, while phytoestrogens sometimes worsened memory. Race-specific results were rarely reported. Effective pharmacological options exist, but evidence tailored to AA women is lacking. Future research must ensure greater AA representation and culturally responsive approaches to menopause care. Full article

Background: Bipolar disorder (BD) is a chronic psychiatric condition characterized by recurrent mood episodes and substantial functional impairment. Emerging evidence highlights the role of nutrition in modulating neurobiological pathways and influencing the course of BD. However, systematic recommendations for dietetic prescriptions remain limited. Methods: This narrative review was conducted by searching PubMed, Scopus, and Web of Science up to October 2025. Keywords included “bipolar disorder,” “nutrition,” “dietary interventions,” and “nutritional psychiatry.” Studies focusing on nutritional patterns, dietary components, and dietetic recommendations relevant to BD were included. Evidence was synthesized narratively to identify potential dietary strategies and gaps in current knowledge. Results: The available literature suggests that nutritional interventions may influence mood stabilization, metabolic comorbidities, and treatment response in BD. Key findings highlight the potential benefits of Mediterranean-style diets, omega-3 fatty acids, micronutrients (including magnesium, zinc, and vitamins D and B-complex), and dietary approaches targeting inflammation and oxidative stress. Conversely, Western-style diets, rich in saturated fats and refined sugars, appear to exacerbate mood instability and metabolic burden. Despite promising findings, heterogeneity across studies and the scarcity of randomized controlled trials limit firm conclusions. Conclusions: Nutrition represents a promising adjunctive strategy in the management of BD. Dietetic prescriptions may contribute to improved outcomes by addressing both psychiatric symptoms and physical health comorbidities. Future research should prioritize well-designed clinical trials to establish evidence-based guidelines for integrating nutrition into BD management. Full article

Background: Bloating, gas, and abdominal discomfort are common in healthy individuals but lack effective interventions. Probiotics can alleviate some gastrointestinal (GI) symptoms; however, evidence for their impact on bloating, gas and abdominal discomfort in otherwise healthy populations remains limited. Mechanistic studies suggest that synbiotics may influence the underlying mechanisms of bloating, including increased gas production, impaired gut motility, and visceral hypersensitivity, but there is a paucity of data from large trials evaluating clinical outcomes. Accordingly, we evaluated the effects of a multi-species synbiotic on GI symptoms. Methods: In a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled, decentralized trial, participants (n = 350) with self-reported bloating/indigestion received either a multi-species synbiotic (53.6 billion AFU multi-species probiotic and 400 mg pomegranate extract; DS-01) or placebo daily for 6 weeks. Outcomes included GI quality-of-life (DQLQ), bloating and gas (PROMIS-GI 13a), abdominal discomfort (PROMIS-GI 5a), constipation, regularity, mood-related symptoms, and safety. Results: The multi-species synbiotic improved GI quality-of-life compared to placebo (0.80 vs. 1.20; p < 0.05) at Week 6. Bloating and gas were reduced in the synbiotic arm compared to placebo (16.0 vs. 21.0; p < 0.01), with more participants reporting never/rarely bloating (72.3% vs. 55.9%; p < 0.001). Abdominal discomfort also decreased (8.0 vs. 10.0; p < 0.01). Additionally, there was a statistically significant improvement in constipation symptoms and regularity in the synbiotic arm relative to placebo. Conclusions: Daily supplementation with this multi-species synbiotic significantly improved GI quality-of-life, bloating, gas, abdominal discomfort, and bowel habits. This is the first synbiotic to demonstrate meaningful improvements in bloating and gas in a generally healthy, diverse, real-world population. Full article

Background/Objectives: Anxiety disorders (ADs) affect up to 20% of mothers in the postpartum period, characterized by psychological symptoms (e.g., emotion dysregulation; ER) and physical symptoms (e.g., disrupted bodily awareness). Although Cognitive Behavioural Therapy effectively reduces anxiety and mood symptoms, it shows limited efficacy in addressing ER difficulties and rarely targets interoceptive dysfunction—both common in postpartum ADs. This study evaluates the effectiveness of a brief mindfulness-based intervention in improving anxiety, ER, and interoception in mothers with postpartum ADs. A secondary aim is to examine changes in brain connectivity associated with these domains. Methods: This protocol describes a proof-of-concept randomized controlled trial involving 50 postpartum mothers with ADs. Participants will be randomized to receive either a 4-week mindfulness intervention plus treatment-as-usual (TAU) or TAU alone. Participants in the mindfulness + TAU group will complete a virtual 4-week group intervention adapted from Mindfulness-Based Cognitive Therapy. The TAU group will receive usual care for 4 weeks and then be offered the mindfulness intervention. Self-report measures of anxiety, ER, and interoception will be collected at baseline, post-intervention, and at a 3-month follow-up. Resting-state functional MRI will be conducted at baseline and post-intervention to assess functional connectivity changes. This trial has been registered on ClinicalTrials.gov (NCT07262801). Results: Improvements in anxiety, ER, and interoception are anticipated, along with decreased default mode network, and increased salience network connectivity post-intervention is hypothesized. Conclusions: This study will be the first to examine the combined psychological and neural effects of mindfulness in postpartum ADs, offering a potentially scalable mind–body treatment. Full article

Obesity is a growing health concern in Western countries and the link between obesity and mental disorders has been extensively studied, although less attention has been paid to post-traumatic stress spectrum symptoms (PTSS). This observational study aimed at exploring the correlations between lifetime trauma exposure and its related PTSS and maladaptive eating behaviours in obese patients who are candidates for bariatric surgery. A total of 189 obese candidates for bariatric surgery were recruited at the Azienda Ospedaliero-Universitaria Pisana (AOUP) and assessed by the Trauma and Loss Spectrum—Self-Report (TALS-SR Lifetime Version), Emotional Eating Scale (EES), Night Eating Questionnaire—Italian Version (I-NEQ), Grazing Questionnaire (GQ), and Eating Disorder Examination (EDE-Q), Eating Disorder Inventory (EDI). Based on the TALS-SR (Lifetime Version) scores, patients were dichotomised as either with low PTSS scores or high PTSS scores. Results showed high PTSS scores in more than a third of the sample (36.5%), with these individuals showing statistically significant higher total and EES domain scores, total and controllability GQ domain scores, I-NEQ mood/sleep domain scores, and EDE-Q shape concern domain score. A logistic regression showed an association between higher burden of emotional eating and greater probability of lifetime PTSS. PTSS appear to be frequent among bariatric surgery candidates and are related with maladaptive eating behaviours, suggesting accurate evaluation to optimise surgical outcomes. Full article

Suicide in children and young adults is a leading cause of premature mortality, and there is a need to develop a more profound understanding of the factors that contribute to these deaths. This study is part of the nationwide Retrospective Investigation of Health Care Utilization in Individuals who died by Suicide in Sweden 2015, conducted at Lund University, Sweden. The aim was to examine symptoms and diagnoses in children and young adults who died by suicide, as documented in their medical records at their last visits for primary care, somatic specialist care, or psychiatric care 24 months prior to suicide, and to apply contemporary psychological research in youth suicidality to the findings to formulate clinical implications. The proportions of symptoms and diagnoses in children (0–17 years), young adults (18–24 years), males, and females are described. The main symptoms noted in the cohort were depressive symptoms (28%), anxiety symptoms (26%), and pain (25%). The diagnoses predominately covered mental and behavioural disorders, and the most frequent of the mental and behavioural diagnoses were neurotic, stress-related, and somatoform disorders (32%) and mood (affective) disorders (29%). The diagnoses and symptoms were not sufficient to uncover suicidality in children and young adults. The clinical implications for alternative assessments and preventive interventions are discussed. Full article

Background and Objectives: Sleep disruption and reduced physical activity are common in pregnancy and may impair sexual function through mood, body-image, and relational pathways. We prospectively examined whether sleep quality and physical activity predicted third-trimester sexual function in a Romanian antenatal cohort, and explored psychosocial correlates. Materials and Methods: In a single-center cohort, 102 pregnant adults were enrolled ≤ 20 weeks and followed to the third trimester. Sleep (Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index, PSQI), sexual function (Female Sexual Function Index–Romanian version, FSFI-RO), physical activity (IPAQ-SF), depressive symptoms (PHQ-9), body-image avoidance (Body Exposure during Sexual Activities Questionnaire, BESAQ), and perceived social support (MSPSS) were assessed. Groups were defined by mid-/late-pregnancy sleep (good, PSQI ≤ 5; poor, PSQI > 5). Analyses used t-tests, Pearson correlations, multivariable linear regression for FSFI-Total, and logistic regression for FSFI-Total < 26.55. Results: Compared with good sleepers (n = 56), women with poor sleep (n = 46) had lower third-trimester FSFI-Total (24.4 ± 3.9 vs. 27.9 ± 4.3; p < 0.001) and higher odds of FSFI-defined dysfunction (adjusted OR 121.1; 95% CI 19.2–763.0; p < 0.001). FSFI-Total correlated with worse sleep (PSQI r = −0.42), depressive symptoms (PHQ-9 r = −0.36), social support (MSPSS r = 0.40), body-image avoidance (BESAQ r = −0.34) and physical activity (IPAQ-SF r = 0.24; all p ≤ 0.015). In adjusted models (R² = 0.42), higher MSPSS (β = 0.26; p = 0.004) was protective, whereas PSQI (β = −0.24; p = 0.008), ΔPHQ-9 (β = −0.19; p = 0.023), BESAQ (β = −0.17; p = 0.031), and higher BMI (β = −0.14; p = 0.049) predicted lower FSFI-Total. Conclusions: In this antenatal cohort, poor sleep was strongly and independently associated with lower sexual function, with meaningful contributions from social support, mood, body-image cognition, and physical activity, highlighting sleep as a clinically actionable target for preserving sexual well-being in pregnancy. Full article

For decades, researchers have explored the therapeutic potential of the vagus nerve through vagus nerve stimulation (VNS). Initially developed for epilepsy, VNS has since been applied to treat resistant depression, stroke recovery, and inflammatory conditions. Transcutaneous VNS (tVNS) now offers a noninvasive alternative, fueling clinical trials in disorders ranging from rheumatoid arthritis and migraines to long COVID-19. Mechanistic studies suggest that afferent and efferent vagal fibers modulate immune responses, mood regulation, and neurotransmitter systems. The SPARC initiative has accelerated mapping of vagal circuits, enabling more precise approaches to stimulation. Despite progress, the results remain mixed: while some patients experience lasting symptom relief, others respond no better than to placebo. Depression studies, in particular, highlight both the promise and the complexity of VNS, as inflammation, motivation circuits, and gut–brain signaling emerge as key modulators. Next-generation closed-loop devices and circuit-specific targeting may improve efficacy and reduce adverse effects. VNS research thus lies at the intersection of neuromodulation, psychiatry, and immunology—offering hope for hard-to-treat conditions, yet demanding rigorous trials to separate myths from medicine. In this article, we review the current clinical and experimental applications of tVNS, analyze its mixed efficacy across psychiatric, immunological, and neurological disorders, and highlight the mechanistic insights, stimulation parameters, and emerging technologies that may shape next-generation therapies. Full article

Ocular allergy (OA) is a subtype of seasonal allergy that causes symptoms of itchiness, redness, swelling and irritation of the ocular surface and eyelids, often triggering allergy-induced eye rubbing and sustained inflammation for up to six months of the year during peak allergy season. These symptoms, coupled with reduced sleep quality, impaired daily productivity and decreased mood, highlight a significant yet underrepresented disease burden. Recent advances in tear-based multi-omics have enabled detailed characterisation of OA-associated biochemical changes on the ocular surface, highlighting human tears as a promising biospecimen for diagnostic biomarker and therapeutic target research. This review discusses emerging proteomic, lipidomic, metabolomic and miRNA findings comparing OA sufferers with healthy controls, and, where relevant, with comorbid conditions such as dry eye disease and keratoconus. Differential expression patterns across these analytes implicate key pathways involved in immune response, wound healing, angiogenesis, inflammation, oxidative stress and return to homeostasis on the ocular surface. By integrating these data into a stepwise model of OA biopathway activation, this review outlines candidate biomarkers and highlights methodological advances that may support translation of tear multi-omics into clinical tools for OA management. Full article

Background: Growing evidence indicates that oral microbiome dysbiosis contributes to systemic inflammation, immune activation, and neural dysfunction. These processes may influence the onset and progression of major neuropsychiatric and neurodegenerative disorders. This review integrates clinical, epidemiological, and mechanistic findings linking periodontal pathogens and oral microbial imbalance to Alzheimer’s disease (AD), Parkinson’s disease (PD), depression, and anxiety. Methods: A narrative review was conducted using PubMed/MEDLINE, Scopus, Web of Science, and Google Scholar to identify recent studies examining alterations in the oral microbiota, microbial translocation, systemic inflammatory responses, blood–brain barrier disruption, cytokine signaling, and neural pathways implicated in brain disorders. Results: Evidence from human and experimental models demonstrates that oral pathogens, particularly Porphyromonas gingivalis, Fusobacterium nucleatum, and Treponema denticola, can disseminate systemically, alter immune tone, and affect neural tissues. Their virulence factors promote microglial activation, cytokine release (IL-1β, IL-6, TNF-α), amyloid-β aggregation, and α-synuclein misfolding. Epidemiological studies show associations between oral dysbiosis and cognitive impairment, motor symptoms in PD, and alterations in mood-related taxa linked to stress hormone profiles. Immunometabolic pathways, HPA-axis activation, and the oral–gut–brain axis further integrate these findings into a shared neuroinflammatory framework. Conclusions: Oral dysbiosis emerges as a modifiable contributor to neuroinflammation and brain health. Periodontal therapy, probiotics, prebiotics, synbiotics, and targeted inhibitors of bacterial virulence factors represent promising strategies to reduce systemic and neural inflammation. Longitudinal human studies and standardized microbiome methodologies are still needed to clarify causality and evaluate whether restoring oral microbial balance can modify the course of neuropsychiatric and neurodegenerative disorders. Full article

Background/Objectives: Adults with intellectual disability (ID) experience high rates of psychiatric comorbidity but often face diagnostic challenges and treatment barriers, leading to inappropriate psychotropic medication use. This study examined the extent to which specialized psychiatric assessment and improved diagnostic accuracy had an impact on medication management and clinical outcomes in adults with ID and co-occurring psychiatric disorders. Methods: This observational retrospective study analyzed medical records from 25 adults with ID who underwent specialized psychiatric assessment at a community-based service in Italy between January 2023 and January 2024. Psychopathological diagnoses were established according to Diagnostic Manual—Intellectual Disability, Second Edition (DM-ID2) criteria, based on clinical observation and a comprehensive assessment using validated instruments. Clinical outcomes were assessed using a psychometric tool encompassing multiple psychopathological and behavioral dimensions. Data on psychotropic prescriptions and side effects were also collected. Non-parametric analyses were performed, with significance set at α = 0.05. Results: The proportion of patients with a psychiatric diagnosis increased from 32% to 96% after specialized assessment (p < 0.001), with notable rises in depressive (0% to 32%), bipolar (8% to 36%), anxiety (4% to 24%), and impulse control (0% to 16%) disorders. First-generation antipsychotic prescriptions decreased (from 36% to 8%, p = 0.023), while antidepressant use increased (from 12% to 52%, p = 0.004). The mean number of side effects per patient declined from 1.6 to 0.5 (p < 0.001), particularly the elevated prolactin level and psychomotor retardation. Significant improvements were observed in symptom intensity and frequency across multiple domains, including aggression, mood disturbances, and compulsions (p < 0.001). Conclusions: In this single-center retrospective study, specialized psychiatric assessment was associated with improved diagnostic accuracy, medication management, and clinical outcomes in adults with ID. The increase in psychiatric diagnoses likely reflects improved identification, addressing key challenges in precision diagnosis for people with neurodevelopmental disorders. Although the overall number of prescribed medications remained stable, optimization of treatment regimens reduced first-generation antipsychotic use and related adverse effects. These findings indicates that access to specialized assessment and precision diagnosis could improve psychopharmacological interventions and outcomes for this vulnerable population, but larger, multi-center and longer-term studies are needed to confirm these results. Full article

Extremely low-frequency magnetic fields (ELF-MFs) generated by high-voltage power lines raise concerns about their potential impact on health and well-being. Previous research suggests that chronic exposure to ELF-MFs can contribute to sleep disturbances, headaches, and mood disorders, possibly through physiological stress responses and melatonin disruption. This study examines whether self-reported happiness mediates the relationship between exposure to ELF-MFs and health symptoms among people living near a 161 kV transmission line in the city of Or Akiva in Israel. A total of 427 participants completed questionnaires on physical symptoms and life satisfaction, while fixed-site ELF-MF measurements were conducted at and around homes. The structural equation modelling (SEM) was then applied to assess the direct and indirect effects of exposure to ELF-MFs, complemented by logistic regressions for confounder analysis. The results indicate that higher exposure to ELF-MFs was associated with lower happiness and increased symptoms, including poor sleep and reduced mobility (p < 0.05). On the contrary, greater happiness was correlated with fewer headaches, better sleep quality, improved mobility, and reduced perceived need for medical care (p < 0.01). Mediation analysis also revealed that happiness partially buffers the adverse effects of ELF-MFs on headaches, mood, and sleep problems (p < 0.05). Full article

Background: Obesity is increasingly recognized as a complex condition characterized by the convergence of metabolic dysregulation and psychological vulnerability. Insulin resistance (IR) has been identified as a biological bridge linking metabolic imbalance with affective symptoms such as anxiety, depression, and disordered eating behaviors. Methods: Fifteen obese adults (mean age = 25 ± 4.3 years) were evaluated through clinical examination, anthropometric assessment (BMI), biochemical assays (fasting insulin, AST, ALT), and standardized psychological assessments (STAI, BDI-II). In parallel, a rapid systematic review (2019–2025) synthesized evidence on the association between IR, affective dysregulation, binge eating disorder (BED), and the clinical role of insulin-sensitizing or incretin-based therapies. Results: Participants exhibited marked hyperinsulinemia (M = 79 μU/mL, SD = 6.61) and elevated anxiety (STAI-Trait = 54.22 ± 22.4) and depression scores (BDI-II = 21.6 ± 7.5). Liver enzymes were within normal limits. Literature synthesis confirmed consistent associations between IR, mood symptoms, and BED, associated with biological processes including inflammation, HPA axis hyperactivity, and dopaminergic imbalance. Integrated treatment approaches combining cognitive-behavioral therapy, medical nutrition therapy, and insulin-sensitizing agents (metformin, GLP-1RA, and GLP-1/GIP RA) were supported as effective and safe options. Conclusions: The coexistence of insulin resistance and emotional dysregulation in obesity is consistent with the hypothesis of a bidirectional metabolic–emotional axis. Early, integrated interventions addressing both metabolic and psychological domains may improve clinical outcomes and reduce progression toward chronic metabolic and psychiatric comorbidity. Full article

To identify hypertension, Ballistocardiograph (BCG) signals can be primarily utilized. The BCG signal must be thoroughly understood and interpreted so that its application in the classification process could become clearer and more distinct. Various unhealthy habits such as excess consumption of alcohol and tobacco, accompanied by a lack of good diet and a sedentary lifestyle, lead to hypertension. Common symptoms of hypertension include chest pain, shortness of breath, blurred vision, mood swings, frequent urination, etc. In this work, two pragmatic models are proposed for the detection of hypertension using BCG signals and machine learning models. The first model uses K-means clustering, the maximum overlap discrete wavelet transform (MODWT) and the Empirical Wavelet Transform (EWT) techniques for feature extraction, followed by the Binary Tunicate Swarm Algorithm (BTSA) and Information Gain (IG) for feature selection, as well as two efficient hybrid classifiers such as the Hybrid AdaBoost–-Maximum Uncertainty Linear Discriminant Analysis (MULDA) classifier and the Hybrid AdaBoost–Random Forest (RF) classifier for the classification of BCG signals. The second model uses Principal Component Analysis (PCA), Kernel Principal Component Analysis (KPCA) and the Random Feature Mapping (RFM) technique for feature extraction, followed by IG and the Aquila Optimization Algorithm (AOA) for feature selection, as well as two versatile hybrid classifiers such as the Hybrid AutoRegressive Integrated Moving Average (ARIMA)–AdaBoost classifier and the Time-weighted Hybrid AdaBoost–Support Vector Machine (TW-HASVM) classifier for the classification of BCG signals. The proposed methodology was tested on a publicly available BCG dataset, and the best results were obtained when the KPCA feature extraction technique was used with the AOA feature selection technique and classified using the Hybrid ARIMA–AdaBoost classifier, reporting a good classification accuracy of 96.89%. Full article

Fishing is a widely practiced recreational activity that offers psychological, physical, and social benefits, but it also poses risks such as acute trauma and chronic overuse injuries. This narrative review aims to (1) synthesize current evidence on the musculoskeletal disorders, psychological outcomes, and environmental factors associated with recreational and sport fishing; (2) identify the physical, mental, and social health benefits reported across different angling disciplines; (3) characterize acute and chronic injury risks, including overuse syndromes and environment-related hazards; and (4) highlight gaps in the literature to guide future research directions in public health, rehabilitation, and preventive medicine. Materials and Methods: A narrative review was conducted in accordance with SANRA guidelines. A structured search of PubMed, Scopus, Web of Science and Google Scholar identified studies published between 2000 and 2025. Eligible sources included population surveys, clinical studies, therapeutic angling programs, epidemiological reports, and case studies addressing physical, psychological, or injury-related outcomes in recreational or sport fishing. Studies on commercial or occupational fishing were excluded. Evidence was synthesized thematically across benefit and risk domains. A total of 565 records were identified across four databases (PubMed, Scopus, Web of Science, Google Scholar). After screening, duplication, and full-text assessment, 41 studies met the eligibility criteria and were included in the narrative synthesis. The evidence indicates significant psychological benefits of fishing, including reductions in stress, improved mood, and clinically meaningful decreases in Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) symptoms reported in therapeutic fly-fishing programs. Musculoskeletal outcomes were more heterogeneous: chronic conditions such as low back pain and repetitive strain injuries of the shoulder, elbow, and wrist were commonly reported among regular anglers, particularly in physically demanding disciplines. Ice and sea fishing were associated with distinct environmental risks, including hypothermia, frostbite, and rare but documented fatal incidents. The results of this narrative review highlight the therapeutic potential of both recreational and sport fishing. However, they also point to the need for greater awareness of the risk of injury and environmental hazards associated with this type of fishing. Full article